Purines are naturally-occurring substances that are found in many of the foods you eat. When you consume purines, your body breaks them down into a waste product called uric acid. Some people, such as those with gout, cannot properly filter uric acid from the blood and, thus, must eliminate purines from their diets.
Recommended Servings
As with any diet plan, it is important to eat a variety of different foods to make sure you meet your nutritional needs. When following a low-purine diet, you should aim to consume 6 to 11 servings of grains and grain products, 2 to 4 servings of fruit, 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of milk and dairy products daily. You should also aim for 6 oz. of protein-rich foods. Examples of serving sizes of protein-rich foods include 2 to 3 oz. of cooked meat, 1 egg, 1 oz. of meat, 1 oz. of cheese and 2 tbsp. peanut butter.
Foods to Choose
When following a low-purine diet, you may eat as many low-purine foods as you would like while maintaining your body weight. Examples of low-purine foods include white bread, white cereals, white pasta, creamy soups, most fruits, most vegetables and low-fat dairy products. You may also consume eggs, but should limit your intake to 3 to 4 per week. Some foods, such as chicken, beef, pork, shellfish and lunch meats, are classified as medium-purine foods. While you may enjoy these foods while following a low-purine diet, you should do so in moderation.
Foods to Avoid
On a low-purine diet, you should limit any foods that are high in fat, such as avocados, pancakes, waffles, French toast, French fries, whole milk, whole dairy products and fried foods. You should also avoid anchovies, sardines, mackerel, scallops, mussels and organ meats. Additionally, avoid desserts like ice cream, cookies, cakes and pies should on a low-purine diet.
Considerations
It is also important to drink plenty of liquids when following a low-purine diet. Drinking adequate amounts of fluids can help promote urination and flush out any excess uric acid from your blood. The Ohio State University Medical Center recommends drinking 8 to 12 cups of fluids per day. It is best to choose water, but coffee, tea and fruit juice are also low in purines. Avoid all types of alcohol as alcohol can increase the amount of uric acid your body produces.
